Hospitality advisory firm launches to support businesses amidst Coronavirus crisis

The UK’s hospitality businesses are to receive support from a new advisory firm looking to overturn the damaging impact of COVID-19 on the industry.

Maze will use its ‘Hospitality Inside’ approach to help businesses to unlock additional funding, improve owner-operator relationships and expand property portfolios, with leaders providing insight to drive profitability in the sector.

It comes following research which reveals COVID-19 will lead to a 31 per cent reduction in the size of the global travel and tourism workforce and a 30 per cent decrease in the sector’s contribution to global GDP.

Robert Swade, formerly of the Jumeirah Group and Grace Hotels, will oversee the venture as managing director, joined by Alison Broadhead, also previously of the Jumeriah Group and Alison Styles, previously of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and Langham Hospitality Group.

The group is also supported by Mike O’Mahoney, previously of Grace Hotels and De Vere Venues.

Robert commented: “We are immensely excited to start this journey at a critical time for the industry.

“We see a great opportunity to help hospitality businesses across the sector to enhance their offering and build more purposeful organisations and relationships.

“Hospitality is not just our background, it’s our way of life. Our team’s big-picture perspective and long-term approach will provide our clients with the insight to enable them to anticipate next steps and to provide a robust strategy to ensure their businesses are well-positioned and protected for the future.”